Blackburn ‘in talks to appoint Bollywood movie star as new manager’

Unknown: Judan Ali is set to take charge of Blackburn Rovers (Picture: YouTube)

Blackburn Rovers are ready to hire an unknown ex-Bollywood film star as their new manager, as Indian owners Venky’s came under further criticism for their ‘shambolic’ running of the club.

Less than 24 hours after Henning Berg was sacked just 57 days after taking the job, Blackburn are ready to defy expectations and hire little-known replacement Judan Ali – whose main claim to fame is as a film star.

Names such as Mark Hughes, Roberto Di Matteo and Sean O’Driscoll have all been linked with the Ewood Park job but former Arsenal trainee Ali is believed to be the front runner for the managerial role.

Ali, who is already in talks with Rovers, would become English football’s first British-Asian coach but the 39-year-old appears to be very under-qualified – having never held a senior management position.

His greatest achievement to date is a brief stint coaching the India Under-15 football team, while more recently he has been running a youth programme in Dagenham as well as featuring in several low-budget Bollywood movies.

Henning Berg lasted just 57 days as Blackburn boss (Picture: Getty)

Ali has close connections with Blackburn’s owner Venky’s and had been brought to the club last month to monitor how Berg was coaching the side on a day-to-day basis.

But following Berg’s dismissal, Ali is now in line to receive a mighty promotion – having reportedly entered advanced negotiations to form a joint-managerial coaching team with ex-Aston Villa coach Kevin MacDonald.

Although many Blackburn fan groups have backed the decision of the owners to relieve Berg of his position, including Rovers Action Group secretary Mark Fish, many fans have still blamed the owners for the club’s current predicament – saying the former star should never have been appointed as Steve Kean’s successor in the first place.

‘So the Venky’s shambles that continues to embarrass our club rolls on,’ said one.

‘I wouldn’t be opposed to see Hughes back, or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appointed. But maybe Venky’s will run a telephone voting system to choose our next manager – nothing would surprise me any more.’

Blackburn are currently 17th in the Championship following relegation from the top flight last season, which saw Kean given his marching orders.